The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

by Beth Moran

The BRAND NEW festive, uplifting read from NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER Beth Moran, perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Sarah Morgan and Jenny Colgan! 🎄❤️✨ Mary never planned to stop running.

With a past she’s desperate to leave behind and a baby on the way, she’s found a new home, deep in the forest, hidden from the world. But when the time comes to go to the hospital, she has no idea that Beckett, the quiet, steady taxi driver who braves the blizzard to reach her, will change everything.

As Mary adjusts to life with her newborn, she finds herself drawn into a local close-knit community she never expected to be part of. Beckett is always there ­– dependable, patient and offering a friendship she doesn’t know how to accept but slowly comes to rely on.

In a place she thought she’d only ever be passing through, Mary finally learns what it truly means to belong. And as Christmas approaches, she begins to believe that maybe, just maybe, she doesn’t have to do this alone, and that this could be the start of something wonderful...

Number one bestselling author Beth Moran writes stories packed with heart. Her characters become your immediate friends and you will feel uplifted after closing the final page!

Praise for Beth

'Beth Moran's heartwarming books never fail to leave me feeling uplifted' Jessica Redland

'A British author to watch' Publisher's Weekly

'Let it Snow is so uplifting. It's cleverly written, witty and smart. A winner!' Judy Leigh

‘Life-affirming, joyful and tender’ Zoe Folbigg

'Every day is a perfect day to read this’ Shari Low

‘So much truth and wisdom wrapped up in this lovely story of love and friendship… As always Beth Moran gives us characters who feel like friends for life and an emotionally honest journey of recovery from heart-wrenching pasts with a lot of laughs along the way. Delicious escapist read’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

‘I was totally invested in this book from the first page. I laughed, shed tears and didn't want it to end. Of course I also wanted to get to the end so I would know the whole story! It’s an excellent emotional rollercoaster telling a tale of love, loss and new beginnings’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

‘Heart-warming, moving and a lovely read as are all the author’s books, I enjoyed this thoroughly and loved the back story to go with it!’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

‘What a lovely story, I enjoyed it so much. This is my first time reading a Beth Moran book but I can assure you it will not be my last. This is really well written story, I strongly advise others to read it. It has it all, mystery, love, friendship, heartbreak but most of all though enjoyment’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

‘Beth has the knack of describing people and places as if you know them, this is a real gift.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Friendship

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Beth Moran initially worked as a biochemist and then taught antenatal classes before becoming an author. She loves to write contemporary women`s fiction set in and around Sherwood Forest, where she lives with her family

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, by Beth Moran, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Mary having a baby around the holidays, reminds me of another Mary and her baby Jesus. I love that Gramps has no filter at all. This was a heavy Christmas story, with a lot of feels. I really liked Mary, shes so honest.

[LaRae☕️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started out a bit slowly for me, but I came to really love the characters. Beth Moran is a writer I enjoy, although I don’t like “romance”, generally. She writes love stories that are sweet, and feel real. This is my third book of hers, and she continues to write heartwarming, uplifting content. If you’re looking for a sweet story set at Christmas, I would recommend this.

[Carol (Reading Ladies) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year celebrates the Christmas story, found family, and new beginnings.

Wanting to escape her past, Mary finds a temporary home deep in the forest and hidden from the world she once knew. She’s pregnant, and a blizzard is raging when it’s time to go to the hospital. She calls a taxi, and Beckett, the one man who is brave enough to attempt the hazardous drive to reach her, will change her life. As Mary settles into life with a newborn, she appreciates support from Beckett and his friends, celebrates Christmas, and finds true belonging.

I love this community of generous and thoughtful people with whom Mary finds practical help, belonging, and safety. Found Family is one of my favorite tropes.

This story gets better and better as it progresses. Everyone pitches in to pull off an amazing Christmas pageant in which there is plenty of humor to be found, and the true meaning of Christmas is lovingly presented. The parallels between contemporary Mary (her situation and baby boy ) and the Christmas story are gently and cleverly drawn.

Thoughtful themes include new beginnings, second chances, friendship, community, found family, hope, healing, trust, resilience, safety, belonging, and the meaning of Christmas. The slow-burn sweet romance between Mary and Beckett is poignant but is not the focus of the story.

Fans of heartfelt Christmas stories, found family, and sweet romance will find a great deal to love in The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Put this one on your winter TBR!

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear upon my request. All opinions are my own.

For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary is running from her past, and finds her new home deep in the forest, alone, away from everyone. But Mary is pregnant, and she goes into labour while there is a blizzard raging. She calls a cab to take her to the hospital and only one driver will risk the trip, Beckett. He picks her up, but they don't make it to the hospital. They stop at a church where there are several people inside and one of them has medical training. Her baby is born there. Beckett becomes her hero, friend and helper, thus changing her life.

This is a lovely story with hints of the first Christmas. It has found family, friendship, new beginnings and second chances. Mary is estranged from her family, and doesn't even tell them she is pregnant, so they are surprised to find out she has a child. She has left the business that she helped found, and it takes awhile before we find out why or what happened with the father of her child. She and Bob settle in nicely and she becomes friends with those she met at the church the night Bob was born. I loved seeing how those relationships helped her in her new life. Beckett has a lot going on in his life as well. His grandfather had a stroke and needs care, but Beckett needs to work. With lots going on, Christmas magic makes its way into their lives and love abounds. I really liked Beckett's grandfather. At times he didn't know what was going on, and at others he was totally with it, so there was some humour there, even in such a sad situation. There is lots of festive goings on, and everyone pitches in to make the Christmas Pageant the best ever. I enjoyed this story, especially the found family theme.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am HUGE fan of Christmas romance novels that are not only about two people falling in love, but also a book filled with a community that embraces the holiday! In this book, Beckett and Mary meet when she uses his taxi service to go to the hospital to have a baby—what a beginning! Right away, I was deeply moved by both of them and their very complicated and sad back stories. I could feel in my heart all that they were going through as they grappled with so many daunting challenges even as they grew closer as friends, and then maybe more than friends. The loving community in which they live has its fair share of unique characters, and their love and support never waver, even though they are all strangers at first. The fun and festivity is always in the background as the story gets closer to Christmas. This book was a joy to read! I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

a charming and heartfelt read

This is the first time I have read a Beth Moran book and I truly found it charming and heartwarming. I listened to the audiobook and the British narrator did an excellent job. When pregnant Mary goes into labor and taxi driver Beckett helps her….both of their lives are changed. Such a beautiful couple who had both endured many heartaches. This is a slow burn romance and also features many wonderful characters from the town of Sherwood Forest. I loved the coffee moms group! A high quality read that I recommend. I will definitely be reading more books by this author. This book just whet my appetite:)

[Lori Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read one book with a Christmas story, make it The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Beth Moran. To say I loved this book would be a huge understatement, that's how special it is! Mary has run from her previous life and is hidden away in a cottage in the woods. No one knows where she is and she is very pregnant! When the time comes for her to go to the hospital she has no car, knows no one, so she calls a taxi. Did I mention that it's snowing heavily at the time? Yep, it's a full on blizzard. Beckett is the taxi driver who shows up to help her. and he is dealing with a lot, too.

As Mary is overwhelmed with the baby and all of the things she needs, Beckett is there to lend a hand. He has become a friend who Mary can depend on. Will it develop into more? Will Mary share with Beckett what she's running from? Will Beckett share with Mary what he's dealing with? They both have put others ahead of themselves and it starts to wear them both down. There is a spark between them, but will they follow through or just stay friends? Will Mary find people that genuinely care about her and the baby?

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a book about leaving your past behind, looking forward to what life can be, and believing it! It's a true Christmas miracle what happens to Mary and Beckett. They find a way to believe and be a part of something bigger than themselves! I think Beth Moran has given all of us a gift for this holiday season and it's this book! The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a book that should be enjoyed and cherished. I rate the book 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy of The Most Wonderful Time of the Year in exchange for a fair review. #TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear

[Mirjam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book, not too Christmassy, but loved the hints + all the costumes Mary made :-)

Characters are funny, have their own voice and you gotta love Gramps!

[Gem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much I read it in 24 hours.

Mary suffers a catastrophic tragedy in her life which you don’t find out until later in the story but she arrives into Sherwood Forest with a bang after going into labour and meeting the ever fascinating Beckett.

A tale of self discovery and new friendships follow with a surprising realisation that life isn’t always straightforward.

Thanks to Boldwood Books for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another easy, loosely Christmas read! I enjoyed the story and the development of it, the ending was perhaps a little rushed for me though.

[Megan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I absolutely adored this glorious, heart breaking read. Mary and Beckett are two wonderful characters and they really came to feel like friends. I loved the story that they had to tell, they were nice to get to know and Moran makes it clear that there is more to both of them. As the book progresses, we learn about their pasts, how this impacts their present day behaviour and feel even more connected to them. Moran's supporting characters are equally as glorious and I would love to know people exactly like they are.
The plot has it all from trauma, heartbreak and sadness to love, hope and friendship. I found myself swept away by the intensity and beauty of the whole read. Plus, this has the added bonus of being set around Christmas which adds to the atmosphere and magic.
I loved this read and cannot recommend it enough.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful, heartwarming read this was.
Once I picked it up I really struggled to put it down.

We meet Mary, living alone in the middle of nowhere, when she goes into labour, then we meet Beckett, calm and dependable. Both have pasts they would rather forget, and presents that aren’t easy, but maybe they need to face them and acknowledge them to move forward?

There are some brilliant characters within this story, Mary and Beckett are both wonderful, you will want to gather them in a hug and make their world better. Then there is Gramps, a very special character who is pivotal to this story, you will definitely fall in love with this slightly difficult older man! Then there are the people who Mary meets along the way, people who help her. People who will tell it as it is, when you need to hear that, but also protect you and distract you when you need to stop and take a breath.

I found this story refreshing, lots of different ideas to make it such a wonderful tale.

I don’t want to give any of the plot away, but I really loved how it all progressed and how Mary especially dealt with things from her past. The author describes the emotions of the characters so well, letting the characters take their time to process their thoughts as well as those of others.

By the end, you will definitely feel a part of this group of people and want to continue to live among them!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary has fled from her former life, finding much-needed refuge in a dilapidated – and distinctly cheerless – cottage in the depths of Sherwood Forest. She’s in the late stages of pregnancy – and when her moment arrives, she calls for a taxi to take her to hospital just as a snowstorm starts to cause problems on the roads. Taxi driver Beckett, who trained as a doctor, remains calm and takes her to the nearby New Life Community Church – where they find help, but also meet a group of wonderful people who will make a vast difference to both their lives.

Beckett (such a lovely man…) has problems of his own – the ongoing care of his grandfather, whose health has declined following a stroke and who is proving particularly difficult to cope with. But his heart goes out to Mary, unprepared for her baby’s arrival – at first he takes her the essentials, then a Christmas tree, and their continuing friendship begins to mean a great deal to them both. And then there’s the remarkable group of people they met during that dash to the hospital – a support network for them both, and the wider friendship group that they both so badly needed. And they can help them out too – with no costumes for their Christmas concert, Mary’s skill set from her previous life is just what they need.

And we slowly find out more about the events that drove Mary to hole up in the middle of a forest – with her past life catching up with her just at the point she’d decided to tell Beckett, growing ever closer and more central to her life, all about it. It’s quite a story, one that pulls on every heartstring and that I really mustn’t share – but while bridges previously important in her life are rebuilt, they bring misunderstandings that cause cracks in her new relationships, including a breakdown in communication (with more than a few complications attached) with the usually ever-patient Beckett.

We learn about Mary’s former life through flashbacks within the narrative – the story is told from the perspectives of both Mary and Beckett, sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings, and that works ever so well. And while they both found a special place in my heart, so did many of the other quirky and well drawn characters who entered their lives. Beckett’s grandfather, veering between difficult and impossible, offensive to everyone – but with a real affection for Mary’s baby, Bob – was a quite wonderfully drawn character, but my heart did go out to Beckett handling his behaviour on a daily basis (and having his sleep so regularly disturbed too, with very little respite). And that wider community they all become so much a part of – their love and support made me wipe away many a tear, and I adored every one of them, with glimpses of many of their back stories too.

The emotional touches in this book are so perfectly judged – the moments of joy and laughter, the struggles, the fresh starts and second chances, and the real sadness that impacts so many of their lives. And as a Christmassy read – it really was everything I wanted it to be. The loveliest read from a favourite author – and one I’d very much recommend you add to your reading list.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary is all alone, living in a small cottage in the woods, not only that but she is now in labour and she realises that she is totally unprepared and doesn't know what to do, now to make matters worse the weather has made a turn for the worse and how is she supposed to get to the hospital? No ambulances are available so she rings for a taxi, not telling the operator she is in labour!. The taxi turns up driven by a nice guy called Beckett and he ends up taking her to a nearby church for help, Mary ends up giving birth to her son at the Church with help from a great assortment of people. She thought that would be the last she would see of Beckett but he certainly wasn't going to leave her alone to cope and gradually they find they enjoy each other's company. Telling her about his home life she can understand totally why he gave up his job and became a taxi driver, but he has a certain person relying on him twenty four seven.

This is a lovely cosy Christmas read, full of festive charm and challenges for Mary and Beckett, will they work through them or is it going to be a total disaster.
Set in the lead up to Christmas and during Christmas, this book is just lovely and heartwarming and definitely a book you will want to read again at Christmas time. A lovely five-star read from me.

#Boldwoodbooks
#BethMoran
#TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear
#Netgalley
#ChristmasReads

[Marta Paredes Andía · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful. I give it a 4.5/5 stars. Such a nice, cosy, Christmassy and easy read that is perfect to read with a blanket and some hot chocolate. I enjoyed getting to know Mary, Beckett, Gramps and everyone else. An uplifting book that will make you want to read more.

The only thing I didn't quite love was the miscommunication trope that is used for a bit at one certain point. However, I still enjoyed reading the novel heaps.

As a Christian it is very refreshing reading a book where the church is not painted with a dark or weird take at all, but quite the opposite. I loved the community that they have, how genuinely nice and welcoming everyone is.

After reading this novel I simply cannot wait to read more books written by Beth 💙

[Cindy P Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️s. So many emotional moments filled with genuine “life moments” that everyone faces. Choices we make, families that we don’t choose, growing up pains, friendships, and discovering ourselves true direction in life. Beth delivers another emotional roller coaster ride that is also fun humorous and heartwarming.

[Mrs Alexandra Elvidge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cracking book

What a fantastic read. I didn't want it to end. I devoured this in a couple of days. Excellent read

[Sophie Irving · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable. Disliked the main character. Spent the whole book imagining the baby as an 90 year old man. DNF’ed at 93%. Cosy and cute but nah not for me

[Daisie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A MONTH!!!!! I am really slacking !!!

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An uplifting heartwarming story of new beginnings, friendship and love. A modern fairy tale that is just about plausible enough to let you believe the world is a lovely place. Well written and with a great set of characters. I absolutely adored it.
With many thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and the author for an early copy.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms Moran's books are so uplifting and entertaining. This was one of her best!

[Gail Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary has a few weeks before her baby is born but nature has a different idea. Beckett, a knight in shining amour takes to to a church, where her baby is born.
Firm friendships are born after the new arrival; Mary finds herself not alone anymore.
The three main characters form a strong bond; Mary, Beckett and Beckett's loveable granddad.
A warm, somewhat humorous story, that's filled with love, friendship and hope.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

we first meet mary as she is about to give birth.... not where she expected to be when she eventually went into labour but we find out about her life as you continue to read the book

but the birth of her baby is what is at the front of her mind as the taxi eventually turns up to take her to the hospital.... but she never makes it in time and the driver who turns up has to find somewhere safe for the delivery

have to say there are some very funny elements in this book... that birth was something else i even felt a twinge and was pushing with her but its as you continue reading that you fully appreciate what mary has been going through though its a slow release book you dont actually find out all of the back story till the very end but its worth reading and because of all the christmas joy you feel whilst reading this one

cant wait to read another book by this author i love how she pulled me into this christmas story and its being released in august... loved it

[Yvette Salmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the chance to read this book I really enjoyed it. A good Christmas story based around a lady called Mary who is due to deliver her baby at Christmas that is where the story changes this is set in Sherwood Forest .
A read that I was engrossed in and took a weekend to read . Loved it.

[Marian Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Beth Moran for an early copy of this heartwarming story of second chances, friendship, love and a community we all wish for in exchange for an honest review. The cover was just gorgeous and I highly recommend this feel-good novel.

I was totally invested in this book from the first page. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is such a lovely story as are all the author’s books. This is the third book I’ve read and I look forward to many more of the author’s stories.

Mary has a baby on the way and a past she would like to forget. After a personal tragedy she runs away deep into Sherwood Forest alone with no support. Beckett is a taxi driver who cares for his grandfather who is showing signs of dementia. The two meet when Beckett receives a call to drive Mary to the hospital when she goes into labor during a blizzard.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is such a lovely story about new beginnings, healing, friendships and a tight-knit community that comes together to help Mary. An absolute comfort read and I loved it!

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's just me ....sneaking another Christmas read into my summer tbr - but you should know by now, that I love this whole season and just could not resist this front cover image and title.

 

This gave me all the feels with just a sprinkling of festive fun - but oh how I loved every second.

 

Fleeing a past she'd rather forget, Mary heads to the Forest and a new home that will give her the isolation she seeks.

But when her baby decides it's time to make an appearance, taxi driver Beckett comes to offer help, in more ways than either of them ever expected.

 

I loved Mary. Although her story unfolds gradually throughout the book, there's just something that really connects us and I was really hoping that she would get her happy ending.

 

Beckett was just the sweetest and definitely went to great lengths to support Mary.

I loved seeing their friendship develop over time.

I adored Gramps and loved that Beckett had given up his own dreams to care for him.

 

The writing style had me totally immersed. This was a heartwarming story full of friendship and hope.

The setting was perfect - I really felt part of the community whilst also having the space and peace of the forest.

 

 

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @bethmoranauthor @boldwoodbooks for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

My thoughts:
A heartwarming story about two strangers meeting up in a very unexpected way. Mary and Beckett are wonderful characters I enjoyed getting to know.
This was an emotionally charged story that will pull on your heartstrings in so many ways.
Though the story seemed drawn out in some places, it still flowed quite well. Mary’s story about her past was very slow to develop in my opinion.
This is a clean story with minimal romance.
#shortbookthyme
@shortbookthyme

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prepare for a cozy Christmas story that refuses to stay on script. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year blends snowy Hallmark vibes with raw grief, unexpected births, and the messy, beautiful chaos of starting over.

I love a cozy Christmas book as much as I love microwaving my hot cocoa three separate times because I keep forgetting it exists, but The Most Wonderful Time of the Year took that Hallmark formula, threw it into a snowstorm, and gave it a crying newborn and a traumatized widow. And I mean that as a compliment. It’s like if your favorite holiday rom-com got quietly hijacked by grief, healing, and emotional honesty, but still remembered to light the Christmas tree and cue the church choir.

Mary? Oh, Mary is running. Emotionally, physically, full “flee-the-past-into-the-woods” energy, and yes, she is very pregnant and very alone in a crumbling Sherwood cottage, having a full-blown denial spiral. She’s not naming the baby. She’s not decorating. She's not unpacking anything besides her trauma. She’s basically the Ghost of Christmas Can’t Even. And then comes Beckett, the human version of a sturdy mug of peppermint tea, showing up in a snowstorm like, “Hi, I heard you’re in labor, emotionally paralyzed, and possibly feral. Hop in.”

And God bless this man, because Beckett is just out here taxi-driving through a literal blizzard, dealing with his grandfather’s advancing dementia, and still managing to be calm enough to get a very pregnant woman to a random church for an emergency birth. This man’s origin story is clearly just one long, painful lesson in patience. But when I tell you that their romance is slow burn, I mean it is the emotional equivalent of putting marshmallows near a candle and calling it s’mores. And that’s exactly what this book needs.

The vibe here is less “steamy holiday fling” and more “two emotionally bruised people accidentally co-parenting and awkwardly building a life together with zero expectations but way too many feelings.” Like... I wouldn’t call it a romance so much as a long, gentle exhale after years of holding your breath. And it works, because both Mary and Beckett are walking case studies in quiet resilience, and watching them fumble their way toward trust is weirdly satisfying.

Now let’s talk about the community, because these people do not mess around. You think you’re just reading about a traumatized single mom adjusting to rural life, and then suddenly you’re emotionally invested in a group of middle-aged women planning a Christmas show like it’s their personal Olympics. I would absolutely join this church, not for the sermons, but to get adopted by the choir director and peer-pressure Mary into fashion design again. The found family vibes? Immaculate. A full casserole mafia.

And okay yes, the whole “using her old career skills to help a Christmas event” thing is peak Hallmark energy, but it’s also such a sweet metaphor for reclaiming the pieces of yourself you thought you left behind. The whole book is about learning to take up space again, even when grief told you to shrink. Mary is trying to earn a life she already deserves. Beckett is trying to hold it together without breaking. And everyone around them is quietly saying, “You’re safe now. Stay.”

The faith element pops up like that one neighbor who never stays long but always brings a pie. It’s there, it’s gentle, it’s more vibes than doctrine, and it honestly fits. It’s less “Jesus saves” and more “Karen from the church group will absolutely organize a fundraiser and also fix your entire emotional life before December 25th.”

Is it perfect? Not really. It gets a little soft-focus at times, and the lack of any romantic heat might make you check your pulse. But if you’re looking for a story that wraps grief, healing, and emotional renovation in a fuzzy Christmas blanket, this is it. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will Google if Sherwood Forest has Airbnb listings. 3.5 stars and one very dramatic snowstorm birth later,

Merry Mayhem Prize: For Delivering a Baby, Finding Yourself, and an Emotional Reckoning in a Church During a Blizzard

Huge thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC of The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. I appreciated the chance to emotionally spiral in Sherwood Forest from the safety of my couch.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Whilst there are lots of background and secondary characters, this is really a three-person story - Mary, Beckett, and Beckett's Grandad, and they never get boring. They're so well written and feel very real with very real problems and I liked them all. The Grandad was my stand-out character, he was cantankerous but loveable.

It's got great messages; about family being more than blood, the importance of friendship and community. It's a tale of self discovery, about caring for others, about second chances. It looks at the power of lowering your defences and letting someone in.

It was a little slow to begin with. Not a huge issue for me but I know some readers might struggle with that, but keep going because it's not long before you're hooked. It's so easy to read and if you're anything like me, you'll have it read within a day or two.

I think this is only the third of Beth's books I've read, but she's already become a name I look out for when I'm after the equivalent of a hug in a book.

I did really enjoy this book but I'm going to say what I've said for a few recent Christmas reads is that there needs to be more Christmas. Again, I'm a 24/7/365 Mrs Claus so I probably want more than most people. But I think if it has a Christmas title and a Christmas cover then I want it to be a Christmas book, as opposed to a story that could happen at any time but just so happens to be set during the winter. That's my only complaint...no, not complaint, that suggests something is wrong with it, which it isn't, it's just my personal taste.

There are some difficult topics: death, grief, loss, loneliness, physical and mental illness, loss of friendships etc. but they're so wrapped up in a positive way that it doesn't feel too much or too morose and unrealistic.

Overall, not my favourite Christmas book, I'd have liked more festivity earlier on. But I liked all the characters, loved the messages behind the story, and really enjoyed the cosyness that Beth has managed to evoke.